"A stampede had happened over five years ago at a similar place which left many people injured. The MP government learnt no lessons from it. Its misgovernance and rampant corruption are root cause of the tragedy. It should take moral responsibility and the CM should resign," Maken said.

Responding to the Congress criticism, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, hours before he was scheduled to leave for Ratangarh, said that politics over the incident was ‘unfortunate’ and ‘unwanted’.

“Politics on any tragedy is unwanted. The focus should be on attending to the injured & take steps to avoid any such incidents in the future,” he tweeted.

Police responsible for stampede: Cong

Maken claimed that cops present to maintain order in the place were collecting bribe of Rs 200 from every tractor driver to drive into a no-entry-zone for vehicles. Tractors were used to ferry thousands of pilgrims.

"It cramped the entire area and it became a reason for the disaster... The MP government and the CM could not escape responsibility for such a big man-made tragedy," he said.

Party general secretary and former CM Digvijay Singh leveled similar allegations. "Officials are collecting bribe under the nose of BJP leaders and no action is being taken against them," he claims.

"Reason for Ratangarh Mata disaster? Police was charging Rs 200 from each tractor and allowing in no-traffic zone. Good Governance in MP?," he said in a tweet.

BJP leader Kriti Azad took on Singh for his attack at the MP government, saying he has a habit of doing "politics in the time of disaster". "We should be with families (of victims), showing our emotions, sharing their grief. Singh does not lose a single opportunity to make a political statement out of such disasters," he said.